Commenting on the inaugural event, Sebastien Bourdais, who will be behind the wheel of the No. 11 Team MISTIC E-Cigs - KVSH Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone machine, said, "We had a good test on the new road course last Wednesday. We made a lot of progress and learned some things. I raced here in Grand-Am and that was fun, but that track was very slippery. I have to say I had some reservations early on because the corners (of the new racetrack) are very tight, but the grip more than makes up for it. The new asphalt that was laid down is very, very grippy and actually a lot of fun."

Bourdais went on to say, "It's a challenging racetrack. You have to commit to it and the grip level, so you can challenge yourself in the car. The last section is very enjoyable. The left, right, left and right again, that's opened up a lot more than it used to be, and they are all third-gear corners. The car digs in and goes side to side as you're working the tires and pushing yourself. It's quite fun and I see some passing areas."

The Grand Prix of Indianapolis offers Bourdais a chance to get back into the championship hunt. He has had consistently fast cars in the first three events of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season, all on street or permanent road courses, but has not achieved the results he has wanted due to a series of incidents that have denied him a top finish.

In the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Bourdais was extremely fast in practice, but got only one timed lap in qualifying putting him 13th on the grid. Nevertheless, he was headed for a top-five finish when he was penalized for failing to pack-up during a caution period and placed 13th.

On the streets of Long Beach, California, after qualifying third, two on track incidents derailed his race and he finished 14th.

In the third race of the season, on the permanent road course at Barber Motorsports Park, at Birmingham, Alabama, Bourdais was again fast in practice, but qualified 12th. None-the-less he was on the charge from the drop of the green flag and while involved in a fierce battle for eighth place, was hit with a penalty for avoidable contact. The penalty dropped him well back in the field and he finished 15th.

Bourdais currently sits 17th in the championship standings with 48 points, but is just 10 points out of 10th.

Born in Le Mans France, Bourdais, 35, is the only driver to win four consecutive U. S. open-wheel championships (2004 -2007). He has won 31 races (eighth all-time) and earned 31 poles (seventh all-time). Bourdais competed in 27 Formula One races (2008 - 2009) and has an impressive endurance racing record including a victory at the 2014 Rolex 24-Hour and a third at the 2014 12-Hour event at Sebring.

The inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis will be held May 8-10, on the new road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be broadcast live on ABC at 3:30 p.m. (ET). The race can also be heard live on IMS Radio Network affiliates, XM Channel 209, Sirius Channel 213, IndyCar.com, IndyCarradio.com or via the Verizon IndyCar14 app.

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